Back-to-School Information

2025-26 School Supply Lists:

• Lower School (PK-4)
• Upper School (5-12)

2025-26 Technology Requirements

• Bring Your Own Device | Grades 6-12

School Picture Days:

Maranatha Christian Academy partners with Slow Road Photography for our school photos. Please refer to the following dates for picture day:

• Grades 9-12 | August 21 (students should reserve a slot during the Back to School Night here)
• PreK- Grade 8 | September 3
• Picture Retakes | October 15

Please have your student dress appropriately for school pictures. Instructions for ordering photos will be available soon and communicated to families. 

Yearbooks:

School yearbooks can be ordered through Jostens. More information will be available. 

Senior Photos:

Seniors need to take their school picture at Back-to-School night for their school ID only. 

Seniors and/or senior parents, please click here to connect to a special page on the Jostens website for you to upload your senior photos for the yearbook and graduation program. (A security key was emailed to each family to grant you access.)

Dress Code Guidelines:

We have updated Dress Code for the 2025-26 school year. Details can be found here.

Door Dismissal and Carpool Traffic Flow:

MCA uses a staggered dismissal time and assigned doors to manage the carpool traffic flow. Please click here to download the Traffic Flow Map. 

Transportation/Bussing:

Families residing in School District 279 may opt-in to morning bus transportation.  A Transportation Request Form can be completed as part of the enrollment packet.  If you have questions, please contact Matt Shepherd in the Business Office.

Our Business Office will submit the Transportation Request Form to District 279.  District 279 will then contact you late summer with a pick time and location (usually at your home or the cross street/corner near your home). Students are brought to the High School closest to their residence (either Osseo, Park Center, or Maple Grove High School) and then transfer to the bus going to Maranatha, arriving at Maranatha about 7:30 am.

After-school bussing is not available.

Maranatha offers students, staff, and guests multiple options for hot lunch, from al a carte to vegetarian to premium, and more. Current lunch menus can be found on the MCA App, or on the lunch program page of our website.

Adding money into your family lunch account

• Login into your FACTS family portal (district code MCA-MN)
• Click on the financial tab to load money into the lunch account. Funds deposited will show up immediately. There is no waiting period.
• Lunch accounts are family accounts so all enrolled children in a family will share the funds. 
• Lunch accounts are not automatically replenished. Parents must authorize additional funds by logging back into your portal. When lunch accounts go below $10, you will receive reminder emails to load additional funds. 
• Parents are able to view what has been purchased each day in their account.

Junior/Senior Lunch 

Juniors and Seniors may eat lunch in the Coffee House. Lunch items may be purchased from the Coffee House if they choose. The Coffee House is not linked to student's lunch accounts and require payment by cash or credit card. 

As part of MCA’s continuous enrollment process, returning students entering Grades K, 7, 10, and 12 must provide an updated Health or Sports Physical and Immunization form.

For more information on physicals, immunizations, and medications, please visit our health section.

One of the most common questions asked is "When will we find out our teacher (PK-4th) or get a copy of our class schedule (5th-12th).

• Teacher and Class Assignments for Lower School are sent by mid-August. Please do not email principals requesting teachers or class assignments. Our staff has a process to be sure that all classrooms are balanced according to need. Requests are not guaranteed or given priority above the overall class needs. 
• Class schedules (Grades 5-12) are provided at Back to School night. If you have questions about your schedule, selecting classes, or drop/add, please contact the Academic and College Counseling office. 

Back-to-School Night - August 21 | 5:00 - 7:00 pm

Before the start of school, the entire MCA community gets together for the annual Back-to-School Night. Families will meet staff, find lockers and classrooms, pick up dress code orders, meet Parents with Purpose, and more. Plus, students in Grades 9-12 will get their school photos taken. 

• All-Family General Assembly with the Head of School in the sanctuary: 5:00 - 5:30 pm
• Open House: 5:30 - 7:00 pm
  • Find lockers and classrooms
  • Meet teachers and advisors
  • Get class schedules (MS/HS) from advisors
  • Bring school supplies
  • Pick up dress code orders
  • Submit health forms
  • Take school pictures in the gym (Grades 9-12 only - reserve time here)
  • Visit information tables in the cafeteria (lunch, health, Parents with Purpose, athletics, X-tended day, transportation etc)

Division Specific Details:

• Pre-K families: as a courtesy, families can check their students into their classroom starting at 4:30 pm so that they can attend the general assembly. Please pick your child up by 6:15 pm.
• Lower School students will receive an email from their teacher the week of August 11th and a phone call by August 15th. If you do not remember your teacher, class lists will be posted on the Lower School office window.
• Middle School students will receive a phone call from their advisor prior to back-to-school night. If you do not remember your advisor, lists will be posted on the High School Hallway by the Learning lane.